During a personal chat with the tenacious and driven Venda woman Muofhe Ratshikombo. The abilities our elders teach us when we are young can also lead to success, and with a little bit of upgrading, success is unavoidable, according to what we learn about how success from Moufhe.
Tell us about yourself and how you started:
“Oumie’s Grandè produces ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables. Oumie’s Grandè’s main product is
atchaar, which was and continues to be part of our everyday meals in Mamvuka, a village in Venda.
Many South Africans consider atchaar one of their favourite dishes because it reminds them of their
home and heritage. Ms. Muofhe Eullenda Ratshikombo created Oumie’s Grandè at 27.Her story is a
true definition of resilience, perseverance, pursuing one’s dreams, and doing something one is
passionate about.”
Early days of Oumie’s Grandè:
“Growing up, Muofhe supported her grandmother in running her home tuck shop. Muofhe and her
grandmother used mangoes from the village’s orchards to make mango atchaar, magwinya, bread,
etc. and sold them to local school instructors, students, and the neighbourhood.”
“Over time, they noticed that the atchaar quality they were making was declining, which was bad for
their business. Because of this, Muofhe became interested in how atchaar was made to offer their
customers the best product. She then decided to go to university.
Despite financial constraints, Muofhe persuaded her family to pursue an Agricultural Development
and Extension degree.”
“Muofhe never forgot why she went to the university. After her degree, she was able to save money
during her internship at ABInBEV (SAB). She used the savings to launch her business in January 2021.
Muofhe named her business, Oumie’s Grandè, after her grandmother, “Oumie.” After years of
consistency, patience, and passion, the small business has now expanded into a factory. The
business is currently operating in Limpopo and Gauteng. The business employs seven women and
four men and plans to employ more in the future”.
What impact would you want to make as a business woman in South Africa?
“The business world is mainly male-dominated. Assertiveness is, therefore, the key to breaking
through the glass ceiling and establishing myself as a force to be reckoned with and an expert in my
career field. Standing up for myself, speaking up my mind, and following my dreams in the midst of
uncertainties, self-doubts, and fear of the unknown are part of my strategies to make an impact as a
businesswoman. This is not an easy task, but it is a necessary part of carving out a niche for myself in
the male-dominated world and developing the resilience I need to be successful in the South African
business world.”
What about the agriculture sector do you enjoy?
“Agriculture is huge, I cannot find another word to describe it. It is the backbone of the world
economy.
Agriculture isn’t just about farming. It has an enormous range of career opportunities, including in
plant sciences, technology, the food sector, textiles, and more. The massive amounts of food and
drink people consume go through a chain that offers jobs to millions of people. Agriculture is
fundamental to people’s lives on Earth. Just check during COVID-19; all the sectors were restricted
except the agricultural and medical sectors.”
“There is also a large agri-supply industry that specialises in selling inputs, including seeds, fertilizer,
and machinery, to farmers. All of these need research and development teams, creative marketers,
digital experts, and so on.There is a job waiting for you in the agricultural sector, regardless of your
skills.”
What does success mean to you?
“I define success as the peace and rest that I have in my life, waking up every day and doing what I
love and enjoy, and being able to achieve goals both inside and outside of work. In addition, for my
family, being able to support them and make them feel happy and secure Furthermore, for people,
being a beacon of hope to those who had given up on their dreams touched their lives. Last but not
least, success to me means financial independence, money being the least of my worries, and having
money that brings me peace.”
What advice would you like to give someone who would like to venture into agriculture sector?
“Starting small will lower the risks of mistakes that might occur and their costs. Networking with
other entrepreneurs will allow you not to feel alone and get advice on things that you might not
have knowledge of.Do not do it because you think you will get money quickly and be a millionaire.
Do it because you want to bring change to your community and contribute to solving a problem for
the people of South Africa. Do your research before you enter the industry; it is not as easy as it
looks. Lastly, go for it! Where there’s food, there’s money, and people eat every day!”
+ There are no comments
Add yours